New Ballymahon to Athlone route sparks fears of Center Parcs headache

Plans to introduce a new carriageway between Ballymahon and Athlone will not be finished in time for the planned arrival of Center Parcs in two years time.

That was the thinly veiled warning to emerge this week amid talk local authority chiefs are setting their sights on scrapping plans to realign the N55 between Ballymahon and The Pigeons by constructing an all-encompassing route corridor from the south Longford town to Athlone.

Cathaoirleach of Ballymahon Municipal District Cllr Gerald Farrell said the u-turn was causing plenty of unease locally.

Aside from the disruption proposed roadworks would bring, the Fine Gael representative said there was every chance the development could clash with the anticipated opening of Center Parcs €233m Longford Forest in 2019.

“The reality is it (road) will be 2020 before it is done,” he lamented.

“So, from that point it would be a worry.”

The focus on establishing a new roadway along the south Longford border has predominantly been the brainchild of Westmeath County Council.

Earlier this year, a number of public consultation forums were held with the aim of selecting a preferred route.

Those discussions threw up five possible options, something which had been greeted positively by local politicians.

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